Motorcyclists rally against ACC hikes

Hundreds of motorcyclists turned out today to protest the Government's plan to raise ACC charges.

The bikers rallied in five cities around the country, tooting horns and revving engines in a loud display of opposition to put up levies by as much as three times current levels.

The new levies are proposed in a controversial bill which also cuts back some ACC entitlements as the Government tries to bring under control huge deficits at the department.

In Auckland, up to 500 bikers amassed in Manukau City's TelstraClear Pacific Centre, Radio New Zealand reported.

Labour leader Phil Goff, a motorbike fan and rider himself, attended the protest.

He said imposing large increases was "unjustified, unfair and divisive".

Mr Goff said the levy for bikes over 600cc would treble from $252 to $735, a jump of just under $500 a year.

"That's unacceptable, outrageous, and unwarranted."

Three hundred motorcyclists in Christchurch rode along the northern motorway into the centre of the city.

In Wellington around 400 bikers gathered in front of Parliament buildings after leaving their machines at the foot of Parliament grounds and walking up the grass to the steps of the main building.

They listened quietly to speeches attacking the ACC increases.

In Timaru up to 500 bikers turned up to the Port Loop Rd and then set out on a ride along Wai-iti Rd, down Selwyn St, to Old North Rd, out to Washdyke, then back into Timaru where they paraded down Stafford St.

One of those in the mass ride told The Timaru Herald it was possibly the largest gathering of bikers that the city had ever seen.

A similar protest occurred in Hamilton, with a public meeting that began at 11am at Waikato Commerce Club in Collingwood St.

Paul Willard, Hamilton spokesperson for Bikers Rights Organisation of New Zealand (Bronz), said motorcyclists did not want to come across as "angry flag-bearers or whiners", but they wanted to hear a balanced and coherent argument about why they should foot such hefty increases.

"I think we're definitely being targeted, and we're an easy target."

Mr Willard said Hamilton's two National MPs - Tim Macindoe and David Bennett - had been invited to the meeting to "say their piece, and confront their constituents''.

There are more than 1000 motorcyclists in Hamilton, "and us older guys tend to be National voters."

The protests have been organised by the Ulysses Club.

Club national president Peter McIntosh said motorcyclists with clean licences and records should pay a smaller levy, and dangerous sports such as rock climbing should be levied.

More open discussion from ACC could have diffused the protest action, he said.

"If people feel they're being ignored, they'll try and make a statement."

A spokesman for Dr Smith said he was aware of motorcyclists' concerns.

ACC was required by law to consult on its proposed levies and motorcyclists would have the chance to make submissions.

- with NZPA, JEFF NEEMS/The Waikato Times, and THE TIMARU HERALD

- © Fairfax NZ News